Winona County, Minnesota - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 11 of those read), 1883

The Pioneers

Quite a number of persons came up from La Crosse on the ice about the first of January, 1852, to see the country and select claims on Wabasha prairie. As everybody stopped at Bunnell's, he, too, became infected with the prevailing epidemic of claim-making from his guests. Although he had no confidence in the success of Capt. Smith's undertaking to build up a commercial port on "that sand-bar in the Mississippi," Bunnell had the shrewdness to surmise that there might be a chance for speculation in the attempt, provided he could sell out before it should be again flooded with water. He at once concluded to take a chance in the venture, and decided that he, too, would have a claim on Wabasha prairie.

Having determined on making a claim Bunnell went up to the prairie and looked the ground over. lie found that the most desirable locations had already been taken. Notwithstanding this he fixed upon one of the unoccupied claims, and selected claim No. 4 for his purpose. This claim he considered really the most valuable.

To get possession Bunnell stated to Johnson that he had been looking for a claim, and had found one that suited him just above the Stevens claim that was not occupied, and he intended to take possession of it. Johnson replied by telling him that he could not have it ; that he had already made a claim there and should hold it. Bunnell inquired how many claims he expected to hold ; that he was already holding two at the lower end of the prairie. This Johnson denied, and explained to him that the one he was living on was Capt. Smith's and that the other belonged to Nash.

Bunnell then tried to convince Johnson that it would be to the advantage of all who had claims there to give him an interest on the prairie, for the Sioux were then talking of driving the whites away until the treaty was ratified ; that with his influence over them lie would be able to prevent trouble. Johnson replied that he would not give up that claim to an 3' man, that he was not afraid of trouble with the Indians, that he should hold both claims as long as he staid there. Finding that Johnson could not be influenced by argument, he left with the threat that he would have it, even if he had to help the Indians drive them all ofJ' from the prairie.

Not long afterward Bunnell drove up to the prairie again and brought with him on his train two fine-looking young Sioux braves in their holiday attire. He saw Johnson and told him the Sioux were getting to be more dissatisfied with the settlers for coming on their lands without their permission ; that there would soon be a disturbance unless something was done to keep them quiet ; that he should not try to control them unless he could have that claim ; if the settlers got into trouble they would have to go to some one else for help.

Although no serious difficult}' was anticipated, the alarm was given as soon as Bunnell came (m the prairie with the Sioux and the "boys" who were on the island chopping came Jumie in a hurry. After explaining matters to the others, Bunnell told Johnson he had come uj) on pui*pose to have a talk with him about that claim, and asked him what lie was going to do about it. " Nothing," was Johnson's reply, and remarked that he did not believe such good-natured looking fellows as Bunnell had on his sleigh would do any harm if they were well treated.

Bunnell had taken a dram or two and was excitable. He lost his temper, talked loud and made a great many violent gestures. The Sioux sat quietly in their places on the train and indulged themselves with their pipes and some of Bunnell's tobacco. They were impassive and apparently indifferent spectators of the proceedings.

Johnson, believing that this was a ruse of Bunnell's to try and frighten them, told him that he "did not scare easy and could not be bluffed with a little noise." Bunnell was annoyed that his dramatic display was a failure, and as he got on his sleigh answered : " You will have to take care of yourself if the Indians get after you; I shall not interfere again." Johnson laughed and gave some derisive reply, telling him "not to bother himself about the affairs of others until he was asked."

The next trip Bunnell made to Wabasha prairie he brought with him two men, Harrington and Myers, and built a small log v'shanty or pen on Johnson's claim at the upper landing. The logs used in the construction of this claim shanty were once a ])art of Indian farmer Reed's old store cabin, tiie ruins of which furnished material sufficient for the body of the crib. It was covered with broad strips of elm bark brought from the Indian tepees in the month of Burns' valley.

In this little pen, not more than six feet square and not high enough for a man to stand up in, Bunnell left Myers to hold the fort and guard the claim, which he had now taken possession of in a formal manner. Bunnell furnished Myers with supplies and brought up some lumber and put up the framework of a board shanty, but did not complete it for want of material to cover it. Myers remained in quiet possession of the claim for about a week, when, considering everything safe, as he had not been disturbed or observed any hostile movements, the settlers on the prairie being absent on the island, he ventured down to Bunnell's for a little recreation and relief from his lonely and uncomfortable confinement.

of Myers. It was a gratification to see the man with his gun leave tlie prairie, lie at once took advantage of the absence of the occupant of the cabin and demolished the impnivements. He leveled the structure with the ground, and then deliberately cut the old logs and the lumber into firewood.

Bunnell was enraged when he found that Johnson had destroyed his shanty, and threatened to whip him the next time he saw him. Myers did not return to Wabasha prairie. He was dismissed by Bunnell for neglect of duty and left the country.

Bunnell sent messages to Johnson warning him to leave the prairie, or the next time he came up he would whip him like a dog. Johnson sent back answers that he was prepared to defend himself and his claims ; that if Bunnell came on the prairie again it would be at his peril.

Neither of these men were cowards, and serious trouble was anticipated. They were small men - hardly of medium size, Johnson a littlt' larger and heavier of the' two and of coarser make-up. Bunnell was firmer built and active in his movements, a dangerous antagonist for a much larger man in any kind of a fight.

Satisfied tliat "talk" w^ould not vrin the claim and irritated by Johnson's successful opposition, Bunnell, in company with Harrington, drove up to the prairie one evening for the purpose of assaulting Johnson if a favorable opportunity offered. Both had stimulated to a fighting degree and were primed for the purpose.

Going first to the Stevens shanty, Bunnell there found Clark and Nash, who had called on a social visit. He inquired for Hamilton and learned that he was at Johnson's. Gilmore and Wallace were on the other side of the river at Farrell's. After a short visit they left without betraying the object of their evening visit on so dark a night.

Tliey went directly down to Johnson's shanty. Bunnell knocked at the door. On being told to "come in" he entered, saying, as he rushed toward Johnson, who with Hamilton was sitting by the fire, "Get out of this if you want to live." Johnson sprang for his revolver, which was in his berth, but the attack was too sudden ; he had no oi)portunity to use it before he was knocked down and disarmed.

Hamilton bolted from the shanty at the first clash of the combat and ran for hel]). He arrived almost breathless at the other shanty, a mile away, and gave the alarm by excitedly exclaiming, " Bun- nell is killing Johnson ; come down quick as jou can.'' Clark and Nash at once started back with Hamilton on a run for the scene of conflict. When about half way thev were met by Johnson, who, although apparently injured, returned with them. They found that the shanty had been demolished, but the assailants had disappeared.

Johnson was taken up to Clark's shanty, where he was provided tor and carefully attended. He was found to have been badly bruised about the head, chest and arms. His face and hands were badly swollen and covered with blood, but no bones were broken. It afterward proved that no serious injuries had been received. Johnson had been terribly beaten by Bunnell and was compelled to lay up for repairs.

When the battle-ground was visited in the morning the full extent of damages to the "pioneer claim shanty" was revealed. The first evidence oi actual settlement on Wabasha prairie had been destroyed. The pile of brick and stone which formed the fireplace, with some broken dishes, marked the locality where the little cabin once stood. It had been turned over and with its contents thrown on the ice of the river.

Johnson's supplies and other traps were secured and carried up on the bank, where they were sheltered with the lumber from the shanty. The stable and cattle had not been disturbed. Johnson and Nash lived with Clark until their shanty was reconstructed. Johnson's revolver and double-barreled gun were carried off' by Bunnell as trophies of his victory.

Soon after this affray, Peter Gorr and Augustus Pentler came over from the island to visit the settlers on the prairie. Mr. Gorr had his rifle with him, which he was induced to leave with Johnsoii after hearing the incidents of his quarrel. Johnson then sent word to Bunnell that he would shoot him on sight if he ever made his appearance on the prairie again.

Bunnell had no design to interfere with the occupancy of the claim at the lower landing. His attack on Johnson and destruction of the shanty was for retaliation and to intimidate him. He became satisfied that he would not be able to hold the claim at the upper landing without some serious fighting, and, having no desii-e to kill Johnson or be killed himself in the attempt, he decided to abandon his claim speculation on Wabasha prairie and turn his attention to what he thought was something better nearer home. The scheme of building \i\) a town along the bluflfs abov^e the present villag*^ of Homer was stiirted about this time, in which Bunnell was for awhile interested. Bunnell returned to Johnson the revolver and gun he had taken from him, peace was negotiated, and the "little diiference " that had existed between the parties "dropped" without farther action. Bunnell, however, became more emphatic in maintaining and more free in expressing his opinicms of " that sand bar up there," and more zealously advocated his tlieorj that the "main land" was the only place for a permanent settlement.

M. Wheeler Sargeant, an early settler, once gave a very appropriate definition of a claim in an address before the Winona Lyceum in 1858. He said: "A claim is a jightmg hitei^ed in land, ostensibly based upon priority of possession and sustained by force." Many of the old settlers will readily recognize the pertinency of this description. The law of might, as well as the law of right, was often the means by which possession of claims were retained.

Soon after this first claim quarrel, a claim association or club was was formed for the mutual protection of settlers in holding possession of their claims. The first meeting was called to meet at Bunnell's about March 1. The prime movers in the matter were some residents of La Crosse who had recently selected claims on the west side of the Mississippi. They came up prepared to complete the business and the organization was created at this meeting. It was called the Wabashaw Pi-otection Club. The important matters of constitution and by-laws were duly discussed and gravely adopted, and officers elected with customary formality. The settlers from Wabasha prairie attended the meeting, but were in the minority and failed to secure any of the offices. The officials were residents of La Cn^sse. Mr. George W. Clark was a member of the club and was present at that meeting. He says from the best of his recollection the president was George G. Bai"ber, the secretary, William B; Gere.

It was not entirely a fable coined by Bunnell when he represented to Johnson that the Sioux were dissatisfied with the manner in which the settlers were taking possession of tlieir lands before the treaty was ratified. Whether l^unnell was aware of the fact or not is not now positively known ; but it is very probable that he knew the Indians designed to demand a bonus from the settlers for the privilege of remaining undisturbed. It was supposed that the treaty would be ratified during that winter, but it was not fully confirmed by government until the next year.

During the winter some officious personages had given the , Indians begging letters addressed to the settlers recommending that contributions be given to the Sioux of Wabasha's band to keep them quiet and peaceable until the ratification of the treaty. That the Indians were needy, and to prevent dissatisfaction the settlers were advised to contribute to their wants, and suggested that a barrel of flour, or its equivalent in money, be given for every cabin built on their lands.

Some of Wabasha's band came over from the other side of the river where they were camped and presented their written document. To avoid any difficulties or annoyance from them, Johnson agreed to give them the flour, but told them they must wait until the Nominee came up in the spring. To this they consented and went off apparently satisfied with the arrangement. Johnson supposed this was one of Bunnell's tricks to alarm them and that was the finale of it ; but in the spring the Indians returned and demanded the flour. This "shanty tax'' assessed by the Sioux was paid by a few of the earliest settlers.

The Sioux and Winnebago Indians visited the settlers on Wabasha prairie frequently during the winter and were at all times friendly. There was not a single instance where it was known that they disturbed a settler or his property, not even in the absence of the owner.

Johnson rebuilt the shanty on Capt. Smith's claim, but put it on the bank a little way back from the river and a few rods below where it first stood. This was an improvement on the first structure. It was about 8 x 12. The fireplace so much valued by Johnson in his first cabin was omitted in its reconstruction. Johnson induced Augustus Pentler with his wife to occupy this shanty. He boarded with them and made it his home until he built a shanty on his claim at the upper landing. Mr. Pentler lived in this place three or four months and then made a claim on the river below Bunnell's along the bluffs, where he lived for several years. He is now living in the western part of the state.

About March 1, Silas Stevens and his son, William H. Stevens, came up from La Crosse on the ice. They brought with them a pair of horses, wagon and sleigh. This was the lirst span of horses brought into the county by a settler. There had been no demand or use for horse-teams. In banking wood and hauling logs ox-teams were the most useful and economical. Bunnell kept a saddle-horse, which in winter he drove harnessed to a kind of sleigh called a train, a kind of conveyance peculiarly adapted to travel over unbroken trails drifted with snow.

On the arrival of Silas Stevens Mr. Clark delivered up to him his claim and gave possession of the shanty and other property enti-usted to his care. About this time, or not long afterward, Mr. Nash put up a small log cabin on claim No. 2. Clark and Gilmore occupied this with Nash as their headquarters until they built shanties on their own claims. Tliis shanty stood about two blocks back from the river on what is now High Forest street. It was about 10 X 12, built of small logs and covered with bark. The bark for the roof and the lumber used in its construction was taken from the old Indian huts or tepees, which were standing on the prairie about a mile above the upper landing.

Cpiapter Xix First Improvements

During the latter part of the winter and early in the spring of 1852 quite a number of claims were selected, and on some improvements commenced. These "betterments " were simply a few logs thrown together, forming a sort of pen and designed to represent the nucleus of a future residence. When the Indians assessed the settlers they did not consider these improvements sufhcient to justify the levying of a tax, notwithstanding the importance attached to them as evidence that the land was claimed and settled upon.

First Improvements

of it was taken by Jabez McDermott and the next by Josiah Keen. These two young men had been living at Bunnell's Landing, but about the time they made their claims they went up to the Rollino- Stone, where they engaged in getting out black walnut logs with Noracong and McSpadden,

Clark also selected a location across the slough, which he held in the name of his brother, Scott Clark, then living in New York. This claim is now the farm on which George W. Clark resides.

Allen Gilmore made his claim next west of the one selected for Scott Clark. He built a log cabin in the grove west from where the Clark school-house now stands. It was from Allen Gilmore, and because of his living nearest, that Gilmore valley was given its present name. Mr, Gilmore occupied this locality until his death, which occurred March 29, 1854r. It was purchased from the administrator of the estate. Dr. John L. Balcombe, by Orin Clark, a brother of G. W. Clark, who came into the county that spring. Mr. Clark occupied it for many years. He now lives in the city of Winona, but still retains possession of the grove. The other portion of the claim is owned and occupied by Mr. Celestial Peterman.

Peter Gorr made a claim on the river just above Bunnell's. He here built a small log cabin, which he occupied with his wife and three children.

In narrating some incidents of early days, Mr. Gorr says that during the winter of 1850-51 Augustus Pentler worked for Bunnell by the month chopping on the islands. In the spring he returned to Blinois, where his wife was then living. During the summer Pentler and Gorr came up the river together and stopped off at La Crosse, where they remained for a few days, but not finding employment, they crossed the Mississippi and came up the river on foot over the trail along the bluffs. At Brown's they stopped to rest and get something to eat. Mr. Brown furnished them a luncheon, but, learning that they were going up to Bunnell's for work, he declined to receive pay for the refreshments provided.

In speaking of Mr. Brown he very emphatically remarked : "I have known Nathan Brown a great many years. He was the whitest white man among all the old settlers in this county. He always had the courage to do right and never wronged any man willt'ullv that I ever hoard. He feared no man, but he treated evervlK)dv witli decency and gentlemanly. That was the reason why he was respected by everybody. Even the 'cussed' Indians respected hhn and had confidence in his integrity. Strangers as well as acquaintances were always welcome to his hospitalities. No one ever left Brown's suffering from hunger if he made his wants known.''

Gorr and Pentler worked by the month for Bunnell during that season. In the fall they built a comfortable log cabin on* the island oi)posite Bunnell's and brought their families from Illinois, with the design of settling on the Sioux lands in the spring. They moved across the river about the last of February, 1852, and made their first settlement in this county.

About the time of the quarrel between Bunnell and Johnson, some difficulties occurred from business transactions between Bunnell and Gorr. These choppers took sides with Johnson against their employer. Johnson went down with his oxen and sled and moved them off from the island and drew the logs for the shanty.

Mr. Gorr selected this location as a temporary stopping-place for his family to live until he found a more suitable place for a permanent home. Bunnell objected to his occupying it. Anticipating trouble about the matter, Johnson and the settlers on Wabasha prairie went down and helped put up the cabin. Bunnell met them and strongly protested against their building a shanty on his claim. Gorr started toward him in a threatening manner and told him to "-drvup and go home." Bunnell, being alone, considered discretion the better part of valor, and did not interfere with the houseraising.

"When W. B. Bunnell and Timothy Burns, lieutenant-governor of the State of Wisconsin, with others, originated the scheme of making that locality a town site, they found Gorr an encumbrance. Lieut. -Gov. Burns offered him twenty-five dollars for his cabin, with a promise of further payment in lots when the town sjte was surveyed, provided he would abandon tlie locality. This offer, Mr. Gorr accepted, and on June 6 made a claim in what is now Pleasant valley, about a mile above wliere Laird's fiouring-mill stands. He built a log house on it and moved his family there on June 9.

The valley was for several years known as Gorr valley - until it was given its ]>resent name. Mr. Gorr was the first to settle in this \-alley. and among the first in this county to make farming a busi- ness occupation. He settled here with the design of making it his permanent home, and occupied this farm about ten years, when lie sold out and invested in other farming lands. Mr. Gorr is yet a resident of the county and is now living on the bank of the Mississippi, above the village of Homer. The locality was once the town site of Minneowah. His house is within ten yards of the site where he built the log cabin which lie sold to Lieut. -Gov. Burns in the spring of 1852.

Henry J. Harrington made a claim in the mouth of Pleasant valley, of what is now known as "Hamilton's Farm." During the season of navigation Mr. Harrington was employed as mate on one of the steamboats running on the upper Mississippi. Early in the spring of 1S52 he brought his family to Bunnell's, where they boarded until he had a shanty built on his claim. His first cabin was a low one-story structure, made of small logs or poles, roofed with bark from the Indian tepees in that vicinity. This shanty stood in a grove on the table east of the present farm buildings and on the opposite side of the stream. Here Mrs. Harrington, with a family by the name of Chamberlain, lived until Mr. Harrington built a more permanent house on the west side of the stream.

This second building was a very comfortable story and a half hewed log house, about 16x20, with a cellar under it, walled with stone. This building formed a part, of the old farm buildings on "the farm." Mr. Harrington made some improvements. He had about ten acres of breaking fenced in with a rail fence, which he planted to corn. He also cultivated a garden and set out some fruittrees. It was his design to open up a stock farm here, but he did not live to carry out his plans. He died in 1853. His funeral was on Sunday, June 12.

Mrs. Harrington leased the house and cultivation to Patrick Nevil, who came into the county that fall. She stored her household goods in a part of the house and went down the river among her friends to spend the winter, leaving the care of her property to her agent, George M. Gere, Esq. Early in the spring Mr. Gere sold the claim to M. K. Drew for $1:00, giving a quit claim deed subject to the lease of Mr. IN'evil. Some incidents relative to this claim will illustrate the uncertainty of real estate transactions while the title to the land was in the United States.

corn. During this time he made a claim in the valley opposite to Gorr's, where he had some breaking done an<l ])iiilt a shanty. This is now the farm of his son, Jolin Nevil. Having an oj)portunity to dispose of his cro}) to a cash customer, lie sold his lease to John C. Walker, a recent arrival with a family, and moved on his own claim.

In this transaction Mr. Nevil gave Walker a quit claim deed and possession of the house. Walker then assumed to be the proprietor and real owner of the claim, and successfully resisted all attempts of Mr. Drew to acquire possession, even after the lease had expired or was declared void. He bamcaded the house and with his family closely guarded the ]>remises. Under no pretext was anyone permitted to pass the boundaries of the fence which inclosed the impi-ovements.

Mr. Gere, justice of the peace and agent of Mrs. Harrington, with the constable, Harvey S. Terry, attempted to obtain entrance to the house by demanding the household goods of Mrs. Harrington stored in the dwelling. They were met at the "bars," by the whole Walker family. Mr. Walker, with his gun in his hands and revolver in his belt, Mrs. Walker, armed with a huge carving knife, the children carrying an ax, a scythe and a pitchfork. The officers of the law hesitated " to storm the castle against such an armed lorce," and called a parley for negotiations. Mr. Walker did not object to deliver up the goods, but would not admit them into the enclosure. He stood guard while Mrs. Walker and the children brought the furniture from the house and delivered it outside the fence. Walker refused to relinquish the claim to Mr. Gere, but sent word to Mr. Drew that he did not desire to be mean about the transaction, and would pay him $400 for the claim, the amount he had paid to Mrs. Harrington, provided they would give a quit claim and leave him in peaceable })ossession of the property. Finding the s [peculation an unprofitable one, and glad to get his money back, Mr. Drew accej)ted the proposition and the claim became the "Walker Farm." Mr. Walker occui)ie(l this locality about ten or twelve years, when he sold out and went south.

Hirk Carroll made a claim in the timber below Harrington's, which he sold to Silas Stevens. He also made other selections along the river at various places, but did not locate on any until he made a claim on the head waters of Pine .creek, in what is now the southern part of this county, where he made a permanent settlement and home for his familv.

The sale made by Hirk Carroll to Silas Stevens was the first "- real estate" transaction, the first sale of a claim ever made in the early settlement of this county. Mr. Stevens had such confidence in the development of the country and future growth of a commercial town on Wabasha prairie that he gave Carroll $50 if he would relinquish the claim and let him have possession of it. It was held by Mr. Stevens for a year or two afterward in the name of his son, Wm. H. Stevens. It was the design of Mr. Stevens to make this locality a site for a steam saw-mill, expecting to use the slough for the purpose of storing logs brought down the river.

Mr. Stevens gave his claim on Wabasha prairie into the hands of his son, Wm. H. Stevens, to hold possession, and returned to La Crosse, where he continued to carry on his lumber business.

Western Farm And Village Association

On February 26, 1852, William Haddock and Arthur Murphy arrived in this part of- the Territory of Minnesota. They were agents of an organization called the Western Farm and Village Association, explorers and prospectors for a town site and farming lands. With packs on their backs, each carrying a buffalo-skin and some camp supplies, they came up the river on skates from La Crosse.

In a letter or report to the Association, published in the ofiicial organ of that body, " The Farm and Yillage Advocate," Mr. Haddock says: "After leaving La Crosse we pursued our journey slowly up the river on the ice, hugging as closely as possible the Minnesota side of the river, for the purpose of making observations. After traveling until about noon we stopped for dinner at a young trader's, who happened to have a smoking dinner just ready for consumption.

" Having no time to lose, we resumed our tramp. Without perceiving any cabin or other dwelling, we proceded on our journey until the shades of evening began to gather round. Having brought up at the lower extremity of a sandy island, we doffed our buffalo-skins, selected a spot for a camp, collected wood, lit uj) a fire, spread out our skins, and entered u])on the full enjoyment of the dubious pleasures of 'camping out.' To camp out, however, is not a very agreeable thing to a person not accustomed to it, especially in a cold February night.

" A few miles of travel in the morning, after camping, brought us to a new town site, just developed, called Waubashaw, situated on a small prairie running out from the foot of a range of bluffs toward the river.

" According to the opinion of many persons at La Crosse, this place is destined to be the largest town below Lake Pepin. Although there are only four or five shanties on the prairie at the present time, yet the whole site is taken up, and already have the claimants begun ,to fight about their 'claims.' Waubashaw will yet furnish some rich examples of discord, and is destined, I fear, to become a prey to speculation, whatever may be its natural advantages. In our opinion it has not much to boast of except a good landing. The land is poor and generally low, and a portion of it subject to overflow.

"A few miles above Waubashaw we came to a quiet little opening in the almost endless range of bluffs, and hove to on our skates for the purpose of making observations. On reaching the shore we passed over an open, but rather a low and marshy prairie, for about half a mile, when we came to a most beautiful opening of comparatively high table-land, covered with oak.

"The extent of this opening is fully large enough for our entire village plat, exclusive of the low land on the river, which can ultitimately be filled up and divided, as business plats among all our members, proving a source of great gain as business increases and the town becomes settled. There is considerable variety of surface in the town plat which settlement will remedy, but take it as a whole, I do not know that I have seen anything to surpass it. Indeed, I may say that it is beautiful, and throws Waubashaw and Prairie La Crosse entirely in the shade."

Haddock and Murphy, on their way from La Crosse, passed Wabasha Prairie and skated up Straight Slough, supposing it to be a main channel of the river. On their way up the slough their attention was attracted to the general appearance of the mouth of the TtoUing Stone Valley. On examination of this locality these townsite hunters found, to their disappointment, that their ideal village

Westekk Farm And Village Association

Israel JVI. Noracong claimed one hundred and sixty acres in the mouth of the Kolling Stone Valley, where he had built his shanty, his claim covering the present village of Minnesota City. They put up with Noracong and explained to him the object of their visit, the designs and advantages of the association represented by them, and the benefit the organization would be in the settlement of the part of the territory in which it was located. Mr. Noracong at once became interested in their plan of colonization.

Finding that he was willing to compromise matters with them, they made arrangements hy which he was induced to relinquish all of his claim, except about fifteen acres of land where his cabin stood, which included a mill-site on the stream. This mill-site is the locality where the flouring mill of A. E. Elsworth now stands.

After satisfactory arrangements had been made with ISToracong, and before any explorations of the surrounding country had been attempted. Haddock and Murphy, in the name of the association, made claim to all the lands in the valley of the Rolling Stone, and to all the country lying adjacent. This was the largest claim ever made in the county under any pretense whatever.

They at once commenced to lay out a village plat in accordance with a general plan, previously adopted by the association, which they had brought with them. This was the first town site survej^ed and platted in southern Minnesota.

A rough plat of the locality was made, with which Mr. Murphy returned to New York city to report their discoveries. Mr. Haddock remained to hold the claim and continue his survey of village lots. The survey was commenced with a pocket compass; the measurements were made with a tape line belonging to Mr. Noracong.

In the spring of 1852 the ice went out and the Mississippi was open in this vicinity on March 15. The first steamboat from below was the Nominee, which arrived at Wabasha prairie on April 1. This boat only went up as far as Lake Pepin on account of the ice. On its second trip it passed through the lake April 16, and was the first steamboat to arrive at St. Paul.

Ciipt. Smith brought up on the Nominee quite a number of passengers, who landed on Wabasha prairie, and also some lumber and supplies for the settlers. As soon as the material arrived, Johnson built a shantv on No. 4, his claim at the upper landing. This building was on what is now Center street, between Second and Front streets. It was 12 X 16, with a shed roof of boards, the eaves of which were about five feet from the ground. This was f(jr awhile the hotel, the general stopping-place for all who got off at what was then known as Johnson's Landing. Every claim shanty was, however, the stranger's home, if application was made for shelter and food.

Jabez McDermott built a log shanty on his claim, a little southeast from where the shops of the Winona & St. Peter railroad now stand. The roof was a covering of bark. All of the material for this shanty was taken from the Indian tepees which stood near by. This locality was the site of Wabasha's village - the village of the band of Sioux of which he was the chief, and their general gathering-place. There were seven or eight of their cabins standing when McDermott made a claim of their village.

These Indian tepees were constructed with a framework of posts and poles fastened together by withes and covered with broad strips of elm bark. The roof was peaked, the bark covering supported by a framework of poles. For the sides the strips of bark were of suitable length to reach from the ground to the eaves. They were oblong in shape, about 15 X 20 feet, the sides about four or five feet high. The bark covering was fastened by poles outside secured by withes. No nails or pins were used in their construction. Inside they were provided with benches, or berths, from two to three feet wide and about two feet from the ground, extending around three sides of the hut. These seats, or sleeping-places, were composed of poles and bark. Some sawed lumber was also used about these tepees. The lumber, boards and planks, found there by the early settlers was probably taken from the river, brought down by floods from wrecks of rafts.

There were two or three of these tepees in the mouth of Gilmore valley near the Indian cultivation. One much larger than the others was about 20 X 30. There were also two or three in the mouth of Burns valley. They were all of the same style of architecture and similarly constructed.

but temporarily occupied in cold weather, when they usually fixed their hunting camps, of skin or cloth tents, in the timber on the river bottoms. The Indians sometimes halted in their migration and stopped in them for two or three days at a time after the first settlers came here in 1851, but they abandoned them entirely in the spring of 1852. These tepees were torn down in the forepart of this season. While the Sioux remained in this vicinity they sometimes visited the settlements, and were at all times friendly without being familiar or troublesome.

Soon alter tlie opening of navigation another town site was discovered on the Mississippi below the mouth of the White Water. Two or three brothers by tire name of Hall selected this location. It was known as Hall's Landing. No special effort was made to develop its advantages until the following year, when the town ol Mt. Yernon was laid out, about two miles below the mouth of the White Water.

During 1851 and 1852 there was quite a rush of immigration to the country on the upper Mississippi. Among the localities in the western part of the State of Wisconsin which attracted considerable attention from this moving population was La Crosse. After the treaty with the Sioux in 1851 many of these immigrants made La Crosse a temporary halting place until opportunity was given to make selections of locations on the west side of the river. A very large majority of the first settlers in southern Minnesota were of this class.

With the exception of the colony that settled at Minnesota City, Winona county was first settled almost entirely by these temporary residents of La Crosse. During the winter some of these citizens of Wisconsin came up the i-iver on the ice and selected locati(m8 on Wabasha prairie and in its vicinity. In the spring they, with others, visited this part of the territory to see the country, and made claims in a more formal manner.

These claims were usually marked by writing the name of the dawi-maker on the stakes which defined the location selected, or, if in the timber, the trees were blazed and the name of the claimant conspicuously displayed. As the season advanced it became necessary to represent some improvements. A few logs laid up, as if a future cabin was contemplated, a few furrows with a plow, or a little corn or vegetables planted, gave evidence that the claim was occupied. ' These claims were usually acknowledged by the settlers and

Among those who came up during the winter and selected locations, and who afterward became residents of Wabasha prairie, was "William B. Gere, commonly called "Beecher Gere." He made a claim south of and joining both of the claims of Johnson and Stevens. Although a settler could not hold, legally, but 160 acres, this claim was laid on a sliding scale, and for awhile Beecher Gere's claim covered twice that amount of land.

Enos P. Williams, then in the employ of Silas Stevens at La Crosse, selected the location adjoining Gere's on the east. This is now known as Hubbard's addition.

Frank Curtiss discovered that there was room for another claim between that selected for Scott Clark and the claims of McDermott and Keene, and located himself there.

Walter Brown selected a location in what is now Gilmore valley, in the mouth of the ravine about where the brickyard of Mr. Bersange is now located.

Rev. George Chester, a Methodist minister - the lirst that settled in La Crosse - made a claim in Gilmore valley where the county farm is now located. The first sermon ever delivered to the early settlers of Winona county was j^reached by Mr. Chester on Wabasha prairie while on this visit to Minnesota. Mr. Chester never made any improvements on his claim, neither was he ever a resident of the county.

A colored man, a barber in La Crosse, by the name of Williams, made the first claim across the slough on the upper ])rairie. It is now the residence of George I. Parsons, The claim shanty was near the railroad.

Some of the early visitors from La Crosse who came up with Mr, Chester, Mr. Barber and others, returned without selecting locations, although they afterward became residents of Wabasha i)rairie. Dr. John L. Balcombe, John C. Laird and Abner S. Goddard were among this number. Mention will be made of them at a latel* date.

Westekn Farm And Village Association

landed at what was then known as Jolmson's landing, with his family, household goods, and lumber for a shanty. During the winter previous he visited the prairie and professed to have selected a claim, but refused to point it out, - none of the settlers were aware of his choice of location.

It afterward appeared that about the time of the "difference" between Bunnell and Johnson, a friendship, or rather an acquaintance was formed between Gere and Bunnell, and a plan laid to jump the Stevens claim. As Mr. Stevens was a non-resident, Gere was to locate himself on the claim with his family, and Bunnell was to aid him to keep possession of it. It was represented by Bunnell that he had selected this claim for -H. C. Gere, and had made some designative marks on the back side of it, next to the claim selected by Wm. B. Gere. Until spring no boundaries were marked on any of the claims, except the claim-stakes driven along the bank of the river by Stevens and Johnson in the fall of 1851. After the frost left the ground in the spring these claims were marked by corner stakes in the rear.

Gere also pretended that he was a partner with Stevens in the lumber business at La Crosse when the claim was made, - that it was a joint speculation which Mr. Stevens ignored.

A day or two before Gere left La Crosse with his family, Silas Stevens learned that he professed to have an interest in claim No. 3 on "Wabasha prairie, and that he was going there to live. Being well acquainted with Gere, and fearing trouble from him, Mr. Stevens came up to the prairie and there awaited his arrival.

"With well-assumed confidence that he had an undisputed right to the Stevens claim, Gere seciired the services of Johnson with his oxen and sled, loaded with lumber, and started with a friend or two to take possession of it. As he approached the west boundary of the claim with his load of lumber, he was met by Silas Stevens, Wm. H. Stevens, George "W. Clark and Allen Gilmore. With the exception of Silas Stevens this party was armed, although no revolvers were in sight. Each carried a strong cudgel, except Wm. H. Stevens, who handled a gun and assumed the position of leader. He ordered Gere to halt and not attempt to cross the claim line with his lumber. This claim boundary was a line due south from the claim stake, which stood on the bank of the river about midway between what is now Walnut and Market streets. Meeting so firm an obstruction, Gere and his party with the load of lumber moved back on the prairie alona; the designated line, escorted by the Stevens pai'ty, until the south boundary of the claim was passed. The escort then stood guard while Gere put up a shanty on the claim of his nepliew, Wm. B. (^ere.

The shanty built by II. C. Gere stood on the east side of Franklin street, between Wabasha and Sanborn streets, on the lot where Thomas Burk now lives. It was 12 X 12 wlien first built, and covered with a board roof, but was afterward enhirged to 12x18." and centered with a shingled roof, sloping the length of the shanty. Mr. Gere lived there until the s])ring of 1854, when he moved onto a claim in the mouth of West Burns valley. The writer occupied this shanty as his residence and business ofHce in July and August, 1854.

Among the earliest arrivals this spring were John Evans and S. K. Thompson. Mr. Thompson did not at once make a claim, but lived on Wabasha prairie, a passive looker-on for some time before he took an active part as a bona-fide settler.

Mr. Evans was an old pioneer, familiar with pioneer life and the settlement of a claim country. He at once commenced prospecting, and soon discovered that Clark was holding two claims. Considering this to be a favorable oppoi'tunity to secure a good location near the landing, he selected the one Mr. Clark had made and was holding in the name of his brother, and announced his. purpose to make that his claim. Clark earnestly protested against this, but Evans asserted that he had a right to it, that Scott Clark had never been in the territory, and George W. Clark was then holding a claim on the prairie. Evans, with the helj) of Th()mi)Son. had already commenced cutting logs for a cabin, but seeing that Clark was extremely anxious to retain the claim across the slough, offered to let him take his choice of the two he was holding. Finding that Evans was determined in the matter, Clark very reluctantl}' decided to relinquish the first claim he had made, claim No. 6. provided Evans would abandon the other.

John Evans then took possession of the claim relinquished by Clark and commenced making improvements. This was afterward known as the " Evans Claim.'' Chute's and Foster's additions were parts of that claim. It was on what is now known as Foster's addition that Mr. Evans placed his buildings. It was here that he lived while a resident of the county, and where he died. While living here Mr. Evans opened up a farm and inclosed the whole claim with a rail fence. He at one time had a field under cultivation which comprised about half of his claim, on which he raised several crops of wheat, corn, etc. He then disposed of a part of it (Chute's addition), and divided a portion into suburban lots, retaining what is now Foster's addition as his homestead.

Mr. Evans did not bring his family here until late in the summer of 1852. - not until he had built a house for them to move into. His house was covered with the first shingled roof ever put on. any building on Wabasha prairie ; the first shingled roof in the city of Winona.

The family of Mr. Evans, when he located here in 1852, consisted of a wife, two daughters and a son. One of the daughters married O. S. Holbrook ; the other became the wife of Erwin H. Johnson. Another daughter, the wife of James Williams, came here about two years after. James Williams is yet a resident of the county. Mr. Evans and all of his family mentioned above are now dead, except his son, Royal B. Evans, who is a resident of the county, living in the town of W^ilson.

Wlien George W. Clark relinquished his claim. No. 6, to John Evans, he took possession of the land across the slough in his own name. When his brother came on he aided liim in securing another location. Mr. Clark never speculated in city lots or suburban property. His choice of claims was undoubtedly the decisive point in his life as to his future business occupations and liome.

Mr Clark left the State of New York in 1851. with the design to secure to himself a farm somewhere in tlie western country. He first went to Fond rlu Lac, Wisconsin, where he had relatives; but learning there of the rush to the upper Mississippi country, he with others started on foot across the state to La Crosse. He there sought employment and secured a situation in the lumber yard of Silas Stevens, where he proposed to remain until he should learn of a satisfactory location for a permanent settlement. Influenced by a higher rate of interest than he had been familiar with in the east, he placed what funds he had with him in the hands of his employer. Familiar acquaintance increased a mutual confidence of the two in each other, and when Mr. Stevens decided to make a speculative investment on Wabasha prairie, in the Territory of Minnesota, he

The force of circumstances compelled Mr. Clark to make selection of the farm for which he had left his father's house and come west. Having decided to locate on his claim across the slough, he gave his whole time and attention to its improvement and increasing his possessions by securing adjoining i)roperty by way of speculation.

Tlie tirst rails used by Mr. Clark in his farming o])erations were the relics of a fence built by the Sioux to keep their ponies from ranging over their cultivation in the mouth of the valley above. This Indian fence .extended from the bluffs to the lake or slough on the bottom, about on the west boundary of his claim, and nearly on the west line of his farm.

These were some of the circumstances of his first settlement here, which, with his determined purpose to locate on a farm, made George W. Clark, the pioneer farmer, the first practical farmer to settle on a claim held exclusively for farming purposes. He began his first improvements on this claim in March, 1852, using the horses of Mr. Stevens for his first team-work, to haul the logs together which he had cut for the purpose of building a claim shanty, before it was jumped by John Evans. Mr. Clark's original claim shanty was located about where his hay-shed now stands, in the meadow near where the lane leading to his present residence leaves the Gilmore valley road.

Mr. Clark has lived on the farm he now occupies about thirtyone years. The little log shanty and straw-covered sheds have been superseded by a large farmhouse and a commodious barn and sheds. He has been a prosperous farmer. Although -others engaged in farming ojierations early in the season of 1852 and made as much improvement on their claims as Mr. Clark, he was the first to settle on any land now held as a farm in this county.